Nerja

Once a small fishing village, Nerja is now the largest resort to the east of Malaga, and has managed to avoid the worst effects of unrestrained expansion and high-rise hotels on the Costa del Sol. There are still plenty of bars and nightclubs for those wanting to party the night away; however, the old town centre has retained some of its original charm. The Balcón de Europa is a cliff that juts out to sea and is enclosed by two sheltered beaches. It is a favourite spot for many visitors with a beautiful view of the Mediterranean, and located near the Nerja tourist office.

Nerja is probably most famous for its caves, which lie some 6 km inland. The entrance to this huge system of limestone caverns was discovered in 1959 by some boys chasing bats. The caves are protected and have been well preserved with many parts still closed to the public including areas with prehistoric paintings of animals and human figures. It is estimated that the caves were inhabited between 20,000 BC and 1,800 BC. Visitors are treated to a series of well-lit chambers and displays of archaeological finds. Of interest are the Hall of Bethlehem, full of stalactites and stalagmites; the Hall of the Waterfall, the scene for the Festival of the Caves held in July; the Hall of the Cataclysm, whose fallen rocks indicate an earthquake long ago; and the centrepiece, the central column in the Hall of Cataclysm, formed when a stalactite and stalagmite met and joined after thousands of years of growth. It is the tallest of its kind in the world at some 32 metres.

Nerja hotels and villas abound, nothing but a necessity for the number of expatriates checking out the area, as well as the summer tourist boom that fills the city. Accommodations fill a range of needs, from economic apartments to ritzy hotels. Those looking to stay in the nicer hotels during the summer should book several months in advance, as these fill up quickly.

Along with hotel choices, there are also a swarm of options for eating out, with upwards of 400 bars and restaurants in Nerja. Seafood is reasonably priced and often available on beach restaurants, a long-time tradition on the Costa del Sol. Some typical dishes are char-grilled sardines, ajoblanco (a refreshing garlic soup), migas (fried bread crumbs and sausage bits), tortitas de bacalao (salt cod cakes), and De La Doncella (red mullet). Due to the high number of foreign residents and business owners, other cuisine (especially British) is also widely available.

If you're looking for a school, sports facilities, or other information you can find out more in the Nerja Town Hall (+34 952.548.400).